Hedge-laying machine



(No Model.)

3 sheets-sheen 1. J. V. LATTNER. HEDGE LAYING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 9, 1897.

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HEDGE LAYING MACHINE.

No. 578.408. Patented Mar. 9, 1897, I

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Patented Mar. 9, 1897. V

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JACOB V. LATTNER, OF CHATHAM, ILLINOIS.

HEDGE-LAYING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,408, dated March 9, 1897.

Application filed December 18, 1896. Serial No. 616,181. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AOOB V. LATTNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghatham, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Hedge-Laying Machine, of which the following is such afull, clear, and exact description as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use my said invention.

My invention relates to machines of that class which are employed to lay growing hedge, so as to form a compact barrier against live stock, also so as to produce a hedge of uniform height and width and of neat and at tractive appearance.

The purposes of my invention are to provide a hedge-laying machine adapted to be drawn by horses walking on opposite sides of the hedge row and so constructed and arranged that the machine will gather in and draw together the laterally-extending branches of the hedge and will press down the upWardly-growing'hedge sprouts or stocks, so as to form a compact mass, said machine having sufficient weight for this purpose, to provide simple and effective means whereby the degree of vertical compression on the hedge may be regulated, to provide simple and 7 effective draft -attachments whereby teams walking on opposite sides of the hedge may propel the machine uniformly forward, toprovide simple and effective means whereby the tongue which is used to draw the machine on the road may beconnected with the machine so that a weight adjustable on the rearwardly-extending end of the tongue may serve to regulate the pressure on top of the hedge, and to provide simple and effective means for detachably connecting the tongue with the main frame of the machine. With these ends in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts shown in the annexed drawings, to which reference is hereby made and hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the complete machine. Fig. 2

5c is a side elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 4 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line 3 of Fig. 2. cal section on the line at of Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference designate like parts in all of the views.

Rearwardly-converging bottom rails A support posts B, which are secured in a vertical position. The top rails A, which are secured to the upper ends of the posts B, converge rearwardly and are respectively parallel to the bottom rails A. Vertical rollers D have their lower ends j ournaled in the bottom rails A and their upper ends journaled in the top rails A. A link E is pivotally connected with each of the top rails A near the front end of said rail. Side bars E are pivotall y connected with the lower ends of the links E. Transverse rollers F are supported and.turn in suitable bearings in the side bars E. Crosspieces A extend across the top rails A and connect them securely together.

A cross-piece B extendsacross the rear part of the machine and is secured to and projects laterally beyond the rear posts B. The crosspieces A and B serve to prevent spreading of ,the frame. Vertical rails B have their lower ends secured in any suitable manner to the bottom rails A and their upper ends suitably secured to the cross-pieces B. A stirrup G incloses the vertical rails B and the side bars E. The outer ends of the stirrups are threaded and are provided with nuts g, which serve to clamp the plates g against the faces of the side bars E, so as to press the side bars against the vertical rails B in such manner as to retain the side bars firmly in any position in which theymay be set, and so that by loosening the nuts on the stirrups the rear ends of the side bars may be raised or lowered, as occasion may require.

A central beam A is suitably secured on top of the cross-pieces A An evener-bar H is pivotallyconnected with the beam A and a strap 11 of the usual well-known form serves to steady and guide the evener-bar. Vertical draft-bars H have their upper ends pivotally connected with the ends of the evener H and have at their lower ends chains H to which the horses are hitched which propel the machine. Stay-chains H have one of their ends connected with the draft-bar H and their other ends connected with the cross- Fig. 4 is a partial verti- I 10 7' serves to retain the end of the cross-bar in the notch j, and when it is desired to detach it is only necessary to remove the boltj when one end of the cross-bar may he slid out of the notch j, permitting the other end to be withdrawn from the hole j.

On each side of the machine are horizontal wings K, which are secured at their front ends to the blocks J and near their central part are secured to the posts 13. The rear ends of these wings are secured to braces E the upper ends of which are secured to the intermediate cross-piece A The wheels K turn on shafts 7a, which extend transversely across the Wings K. Caster-Wheels L are connected with the under side of the front end of the bottom rails A and serve to support the front end of the machine.

A tool-box M extends transversely across the top of the machine and is secured to the top of the rails A.

I-Iooks N are secured to the sides of the top rails A and extend vertically upward.

\Vhen the machine is in operation, the tongue is detached from the front of the machine and is placed on top of the tool-box, with the ends of the cross-bar of the tongue resting in the hooks N, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A weight 0 is placed and is adjustable on the rearwardly-projecting end of the tongue and serves to increase the pressure of the rear roller F on top of the hedge.

On one side of the machine and on top of the cross-piece B is a spool T, carrying wire with which the hedge is tied down at intervals as the operation of laying the hedge progresses.

I am aware that hedge-laying machines have been made having rearwardly-converging bottom rails, rearwardly-converging top rails, vertical rollers turning in bearings between said top rails and bottom rails, and transverse rollers rolling on top of the laid hedge. I therefore do not claim those features, broadly.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In ahedge-laying machine the combination of, rearwardly-converging bottom rails, rearwardly-converging top rails, vertical rollers turning in hearings on said bottom rails and top rails, a tongue detachably connected with said bottom rails, links connected with 'said top rails, side bars connected with said links, stirrups adjustably connecting said side bars with the main frame, transverse rollers turning in hearings on said bars; hooks secured to said top rails and adapted to support the tongue on the top of the machine and a weight carried on said tongue, substantially as set forth.

2. In a hedge-laying machine the combination of, a main structure consisting of rearwardly-convergingbottom rails, rearwardly converging top rails, vertical rollers turning in bearings on said top rails and bottom rails, side bars, transverse rollers turning in bearings on said side bars; a cross-piece secured to said top rails; an evenerpivotally connected with said main frame, draft-bars pivotally connected with said evener, draft-chains connected with said draft-bars and stay-chains connecting said draft-bars with said crosspiece, as set forth.

3. In a hedge-laying machine the'coinbination of, rearwardly-converging bottom rails, rearwardly-converging top rails, vertical rollers turning in bearings on said bottom rails and top rails, side bars having a hinge connection with said top rails, transverse rollers turning in bearings on said side bars, vertical posts and rails connecting said bottom rails and top rails, stirrups adj ustably connecting said side bars with said vertical rails, wings connected with said bottom rails, supportingwheels turning on shafts carried on said wings, an evener-bar pivotally connected with the main frame, draft-bars pivotally connected with said evener-bar, draft-chains connected with said draft-bars, stay-chains connecting said draft-bars with the main frame, a tongue connectible with the front ends of the bottom rails, a tool-box supported on the top rails, hooks connected with the top rails and adapted to retain the tongue in position on top of the tool-box and a weight adjustable on said tongue, as set forth.

4. In a hedge-laying machine the combination of a main frame, a tool-box supported on said main frame, hooks connected with the main frame, a tongue adapted to rest on said tool-box and engage with said hooks and a Weight adjustable on said tongue, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed, at Ohathain, Illinois, this 8th day of July, 1896.

JACOB V. LATTNER.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 578,408, granted March 9, 1897,

I upon the application of Jacob V. Lattner, of Chatham, Illinois, for an improvement in Hedge-Laying Machines, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: In line 51, page 1, the Word and numeral Fig. 4 should read 3 Fig. 8, and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 30th day of March, A. D., 1897.

[SEAL] J N O. M. REYNOLDS,

Assistant Secretary of I the Interior. Countersigned S. T. FISHER,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

